Lessons from Troy Davis

     I have always been a person who wore their emotions on their sleeve. I am the first person to cry at a sad movie, when I watch someone get married, or at a funeral. When mass tragedy strikes, such as 9-11 or Hurricane Katrina, these feelings get exacerbated. I cry and get extremely depressed because I am so ashamed to co-exist on a planet where people are abused and treated in such a heinous capacity. I remember when 9-11 happened. I went to school the next day for about an hour because I cried all through class and the guidance counselor called my mother and she had to take me home. My senior year of high school, while watching footage of Hurricane Katrina on CNN, I cried for days about it. I think my tears came from feeling an extreme sense of empathy and compassion. But, like most other people, I let the tears dry on their own, and I moved on with my life.
      The death of Troy Davis has left me with vast set of sentiments. As I write this, with tears streaming down my face, so many emotions run through me. One emotion is complete sadness and heartache for the family of Troy Davis. I cannot image what it would be like to lose a loved one to such an unfair, racist, and bureaucratic judicial system that entitles every citizen to "due process." Another thought that runs through me is anger and embarrassment. I love my country for so many reasons, but my patriotism is never blinded to the gaps and holes that our country has in its systems. This is clearly one of them. I personally believe that the capital punishment is immoral, especially for this reason. Troy Davis's case got all of this media attention, but who is speaking for the other prisoners who are on death row for crimes they did not commit? How many other Troy Davises are out there, waiting for their last meals and to be read their last rites? I also feel complete embarrassment on my behalf and the other millions of citizens that live in this country. Troy Davis has been in jail since the early 1990s, so where was all of the commotion about the injustice then? Why does it take for  witching hour to strike for self-absorbed, self-centered citizens (myself included) to get invested in this tragic story? It makes me feel guilty, and that perhaps, my empathy and compassion are not as deep as I credit them to be.
          There are many lessons to be taken away from the Troy Davis story. Besides, the clear injustice in our prison system, there are lessons for every day citizens to take away from this. For teachers that go into the inner city every day, remember you are teaching a room full of students that have a strong possibility of leading down the path of Troy Davis (who dropped out of high school his junior year). Please think about this, especially on your worst days. Society has places for these kids to go to. If it's not prison, it's to the morgue. Being a former teacher, I know that on those hard days, you don't think you are doing anything for anyone in your classroom. But, you are. Just by being there, you are  providing support and possibilities for them everyday. You do amazing things, and the world owes you a lot because it takes a special person to go into depressed neighborhoods and try to make a difference.
     As for me, I am going to learn to channel my compassion and emotion into action. I have been unhappy in my current employment situation mainly because I feel like I am not making a difference in the lives of anyone anymore. I can change this. I am going to take my passion and ensure that I am speaking up for what I believe in. This strong, politically driven Mount Holyoke woman does not just have critiques and complaints anymore. I cannot expect the world to change if I sit at home and watch Intervention and The Cosby Show all day.
      To call Troy Davis's story injust is an understatement. But, I challenge all of the people who were moved, affected, or angered by his story to always remember that feeling. Remember the consequences of silence, and that your voice has the potential to change things. But, we cannot do this at the last minute, we must fight inequality at all steps. I vow to continue to stay informed---by reading the paper, forming opinions, articulating my thoughts to others, critiquing my opinions, and actively challenging authority when I disagree.

It may not change the world. But, at least I know I'm doing something.